Harold Everett Newell Jr.

Harold Jr was born in Zanesville, OH, to Harold E. Newell Sr and Pauline (Huddleston) Newell, on March 31, 1948. He graduated from West Muskingum High School, Zanesville, Ohio in 1966.

Harold Jr would marry the love of his life, Ruth Ann (Suttles) on April 29, 1967. They would spend the next 57 years growing their family and making a lifetime of memories together. With only two years into their marriage, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1969 and would spend the next twenty-one years serving his country with his devoted wife by his side. In those twenty-one years he would see combat action 1972-1973 in the Vietnam, the Mayaguez Operation in May 1975, the Indian Ocean Operation in 1979, and Bierut Lebanon 1981-1982. His distinguished career awarded him two purple hearts, the Marine Corps and Navy Achievement medal, four-star Combat Air Crew medal, four-star Combat Air Crew medal, multiple Unit Citations for combat, along with many other service awards. He would retire with the rank and title Gunnery Sergeant and became known to many as “Gunny”. He later became a member of the York Rite Free Masons.

Harold Jr had a passion for drawing, painting, hunting, fishing, weaponry, spending time with family but his greatest passion was spending time and spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Harold Jr was preceded in death by his mother Pauline Parsons, stepfather Keith Parsons, stepmother Bertie Newell, brothers Walter Parsons, Kevin Parsons, Conard Bob Newell, and his great granddaughter Luna Marie Mahlke. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years Ruth Ann (Suttles), daughter Candra (Mel) Mahlke (Middleburg, FL), son Dade (Amy) Newell Sr, father Harold E Newell Sr (Zanesville, OH), uncles Wayne (Evelynn) Huddleston (Houston, TX) and Gerald (Joan) Newell (Zanesville, OH), brothers Mark (Tina) Newell (Zanesville, OH) and John Newell (Zanesville, OH), grandsons Mason (Andie) Mahlke (Middleburg, FL), William Brundage , Dalton (Allison) Mahlke (Middleburg, FL) and Dade (Molly) Newell Jr (San Diego, CA), granddaughters Brittany Mahlke (Jacksonville, FL), Kendall Newell and Payten Newell, four great grandsons and five great granddaughters, many nieces and nephews, his Marine Corps brothers and close friends.

Two words sum up this man, “Semper Fidelis”.

Funeral services will be held at 6 pm, April 12, 2024, at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd, Orange City, FL 32763. There will be a celebration of life at 4pm on June 22, 2024, at Dillon State Park, Nashport, OH. Mr. Newell will be laid to rest at 3 pm on Friday, September 27, 2024 with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit our website at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/orange-city-fl/harold-newell-11759300